Chapter Ten – The Play Begins (Part Two)
It was sometime later before even Hurin had to admit they were lost.
Entering the castle had been easy enough but once in they had quickly found the interior of the castle to be a warren of corridors, passageways and stairwells.
They were on the twenty-fourth floor when Talim stopped them.
"Enough, we are accomplishing nothing, we have been wandering for the last hour or so, we can afford no more time waste."
"This should be the right floor." Cassandra chipped in. "The plans did sat the twenty-fourth floor was where the royal balcony was."
Felix for his part lent against a nearby thick red curtain, he was exhausted from the hurrying about, up and down staircases, dodging the (thankfully rare) guards and striving to walk in a convincingly confident way past servants or maids, it had been tough going.
"We should split up." Talim decided, taking control. "Myself and Felix will head down this corridor while Hurin and Cassandra head the opposite way, with luck one of us can find the royal box, ambush an approaching server and then take the drugged drinks in. If we split up into twos we have a better chance of finding the royal box, if neither group finds anything we should meet back here in twenty minutes."
"Alright…" Hurin reluctantly agreed turning to his one time employer. "Come on then, let's go." Without waiting for her he turned and made off, striding confidently down the corridor, his hand never far from the sword worn boldly at his side (He'd been assured that nobles carried open weapons).
Talim for her part turned to Felix. "Well then, let's head down this way." She motioned the other way and Felix wearily nodded, together they moved down the corridor, eyes open and alert.
Sara's back ached.
The play was approaching its third act which marked the half way point and Sara was steadily growing more and more bored.
The acting and music were of fantastic quality but why was she not engaged and entranced by a performance of her favourite play? She looked sideways at her mother, the queen, her rapt stern gaze following every moment of the play…she had never been like this, what was wrong?
She wished her godfather; King Philip Valois of Cartilge was here. He was a kind young king, still possessed of youthful vitality and optimism, when he was around her mother seemed to soften, once they had been great friends so much so that he had become Sara's godfather on her birth but ever since Viola's husband had died and she had changed Philip's visits had become rarer and rarer, she hadn't seen him for a year or so.
If she could just bring him up to see Viola again…she might open herself up to him a bit, something was wrong and something was going on, something she wasn't aware of…
Feeling uneasy she decided that she'd had enough of the play for tonight and she would retire early for the night, she could sleep and then in the morning would compose a letter to Cartilge urging a royal visit.
Leaning over in her seat towards her mother she whispered. "Please excuse me, I feel a chill and have need to retire early."
One bony arm dismissed her; Viola didn't even look down at her daughter.
Feeling glummer Sara stood and moved around the box to move out through the doors, she suddenly remembered Galamore still standing there watching the play, he noticed her leaving and her sad face.
"Princess I shall accompany you to you're room." The knight turned with her, Sara nodded and turned one last time to see her mother still watching the play intently, General Helen standing to the side of the Queen offered Sara a little smile.
Sara turned and moved out of the royal box.
"That's it, the royal box!" Talim hushed as she and Felix turned down a new corridor. There at the far end of doors leading off was an ornate double set of gold plated doors.
"Great!" Felix took a deep breath to steady himself "Now what?"
"We wait for someone bearing drinks to the royal box." Talim nodded back down the way they had come. "This is the only route of access to the box, the royal family will have refreshments served to them on the hour, we need but wait, with luck Hurin and Cassandra will find their way here so we can stay together."
"Hush!" Talim shushed. "Someone's coming out of the royal box…quick!" She gestured to the nearest door and opened it to reveal (luckily) an abandoned room. "In here!"
Felix dashed in with Talim behind him as she shut the door behind them as from the royal box Princess Sara Lightby strode out closely followed by a large armoured knight in very gaudy armour.
"It's her!!!" Felix hissed from the cover of the room watching through a tiny open crack in the door with Talim.
"Quiet their talking!" She urged in return.
"Princess do you not find the play to you're satisfaction?" A loud, deep voice echoed.
"It's not that…" The soft female voice replied, it had to be the princess! "Its just I can concentrate on it right now, I'm going to retire for the night."
"Then I will guard you're room until dawn!" The voice boomed back nearly level with this room.
"Oh you don't have to." The princess's voice replied now directly going past the door as Felix and Talim slunk back into the room. "The upper levels are well guarded, it's not like I'm going to be kidnapped or anything."
"So you say princess…" The other voice replied now moving down the corridor, away from the room, Felix moved his head back to the door when he suddenly heard a crash and the loud deep voice again. "Ho! What's this!?"
The young waiter strode down the corridor holding a silver platter of drinks bound for the royal box. He was tired of having to walk up all these stairs but he was nearly there, just down this corridor, a right and he was there and he could go back downstairs and watch the rest of the play from a window.
It was then that a tall man moved out of one of the rooms with a young woman behind him looking somewhat nervous, the waiter slowed, they were in his way and didn't seem to be moving, he noticed the sword at the mans belt, was he a visiting lord from Cartilge?
"I'll take that if you don't mind." The man said moving forwards to the befuddled waiter.
"Erm, its okay…m'lord? I've got it…Oh!" Hurin's fist suddenly moved faster then Cassandra could believe and smacked the waiter full in the face. The man tumbled backwards as with the other hand Hurin leapt forwards and caught the tray before it dropped. The waiter collapsed to the floor with a crash.
"Nothing to it!" Hurin grinned turning to Cassandra. "Right, you take this, put the tablets in while I change into his things, with luck Felix and Talim will come upon us shortly…"
"Ho! What's this!?" A deep voice called from down the corridor, Hurin and Cassandra both looked up to see a young beautiful woman flanked by a tall imposing, fully armoured knight (minus the helmet).
It was then that both parties noticed something about the other.
Galamore noticed the weapon at the man's side and the small bottle of tablets in the woman's hands, Sara noticed the unconscious waiter behind the man and the fact that the man with the sword was certainly not a visiting lord.
Cassandra and Hurin both noticed in an instant the small silver circlet that sat astride the young woman's black hair and the sliver of Crystal hanging round her neck.
"The princess!" Cassandra jumped in surprise.
"What's this, assault in the castle!!!" Galamore bellowed, he pulled forth his mighty silver broadsword from his back and readied it in his hands stepping between the princess and the group. "Get back princess, they mean you ill!"
Hurin decided to take things into his own hands. "Give us the crystal princess." He said bluntly pulling forth his sabre. "Give it to us and we'll be out of here without having to hurt anyone."
Cassandra next to Hurin felt sudden fear grip her, what was going to happen, it was then that from behind the princess and her knight she saw Felix and Talim move out into the corridor blocking the route back to the royal box, the knight noticed too.
"Run princess!" He shouted to Sara indicating a nearby door next to them. "In there quickly, get help, I will hold them here!"
"Galamore!" Sara looked up at the knight, his face set, she switched her gaze back to the young man and the…young girl next to him, they seemed somewhat less threatening but were advancing nevertheless and she saw the glint of metal tonfa's in the girls hands.
Moving away from Galamore she moved to the door opened it and turned in time just to see Galamore charge down the corridor.
The knight chose Hurin as the most dangerous target, he came like a sledgehammer, sword held high above his head, his ridiculous armour clanking like an army, Hurin for his part stood his ground waiting, readying his sword for the quick deadly killing blow, the knights face was fully exposed, a quick Gatotsu and it would be all over…then Galamore did an unexpected thing.
He tripped
The thick woollen carpet underneath him played as much a part of it as his massive heavy armoured played, one foot got caught in the other and the proud knight tumbled to the ground, feet splayed out rather spectacularly and his head crashed into the floor where he lay apparently stunned.
"That was unexpected!" Cassandra gasped.
"No time, come on, after the princess!" Hurin shouted bypassing the knight, luckily no-one was around but it was only a matter of time before the alarm was risen. Felix and Talim had already reached the door the princess had gone through.
"Blast! Locked!" Felix swore.
"Stand aside." Talim urged and when he did so she moved directly in front of the door and a blast of air smashed into the door ripping it off the hinges and to the ground with a crash.
Inside was a small room with tables and chairs and…
"Drat!" Hurin shouted running forwards.
…an open window
"Did you hear something?" General Helen asked herself aloud her ears hearing the crash in the distance, it sounded very close and her reflexes urged her to action.
"Hush now and observe, we're in the penultimate act." Queen Viola replied briskly still watching the performance far below her.
"Yes highness." Helen replied, even if it was something she couldn't abandon the queen, the castle guards were mostly out enforcing the stage area around the theatre ship…it was probably nothing.
Princess Sara Lightby had never been so terrified in her life, on entering the room and locking it she had realised there was no way out…except for a closed window.
Rushing up to it and flinging it open she looked all around, far below the lights of Brimshare lit up the night sky, falling was not an option, wind whistled all about, behind Sara heard a crash, it sounded like armour, she had to make a choice now.
Two floors below to the right was a balcony, ledges ran along the walls, she could do this…no she couldn't!
A sound from behind got her attention, someone was trying to get in! She had to make a choice…on the spur of the moment she got up, dress and all and stepped out onto the tiny ledge as behind her the door exploded open pushed off by some supernatural or elemental power.
Felix and Hurin reached the window first, looking out they were greeted by an astonishing sight.
The princess of Brimshare was edging along a tiny ledge barely wider then one of her feet, her extravagant cream dress whipped around in the strong winds.
She glanced back at them as they looked out.
"Princess! Come back!" Talim shouted coming alongside Felix.
Felix felt terror in him, everything was going so wrong but the look in the princess's eyes startled him. He saw fear yes but also determination flash in those dark eyes as her black hair whipped all around her.
"She got guts." Cassandra hoarsely whispered.
"Aye, and then some." Hurin agreed.
"Enough! I'm, going after her." Felix decided, heights did not faze him too much.
"No don't!" Talim grabbed his arm before he could move. "The ledge could not take two people, I may be light enough however."
"Oh!!" Cassandra gasped.
Felix turned back, the princess of Brimshare had moved a bit further along and with a sudden cry she leapt from the ledge two stories down to an abandoned balcony jutting out from the castle.
It looked painful, she landed sprawled out on her front and for a moment Felix was terrified she was dead but a moment later the princess got up shakily and then looked up at them shooting them a look of ice. Then gathering her dress up she dashed off the balcony.
"Come on!!!" Hurin shouted. "Back to the stairs, we've got to stop her."
They turned together and dashed back out into the castle corridor heading for the stairs, as they charged away Galamore who was still spread out on the carpet stirred.